One major problem keeps many creators and businesses from selling greeting cards with ease. Traditional printing demands large upfront orders and makes testing new ideas risky.
That’s why print-on-demand greeting cards are more popular than ever in 2026. With this model, you avoid inventory costs and work with print-on-demand providers that produce quality cards.
If you’re ready to build a greeting card brand that stands out, now is the time to start. Let’s explore the top print-on-demand greeting card companies that make launching simple.
Why Start a Print-on-Demand Greeting Card Business in 2026?
According to Grand View Research, the global greeting cards market size was $19.61 billion in 2024. This value is expected to reach $22.9 billion by 2033. Traditional cards still dominate the market, outperforming e-cards in overall sales.
With this demand, the print-on-demand model lets creators sell cards without upfront printing costs or inventory risk. Plus, you have the creative freedom to try out different POD design ideas for your greeting cards.
In addition to these benefits, selling print-on-demand greeting cards offers strong profit potential. This works because cards are inexpensive to make but sell at higher prices.
You can build a strong customer base by focusing on a specific POD niche. This will help you meet the needs of a targeted audience.
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How to Start Your Greeting Card Business From Home (The 5-Step Launch)
Starting a card business from home is easier when you follow a clear plan. These simple steps will help you build a strong brand that attracts the right buyers.
Step 1: Define Your Niche and Brand Voice
To succeed, you need to choose a clear and profitable niche. This would help you understand your audience and what they care about.
One way to define your niche is to research audiences that are poorly served by existing greeting card options. You can:
- Target holidays that receive little attention
- Explore career milestones or life events rarely represented in card stores.
- Focus on humor themes or cultural events that are popular but have limited card options.
Study what people search for and what they struggle to find. You can then build your brand around that niche.
Choose your brand voice, which will guide the tone and design style for your print-on-demand greeting cards. If you enjoy sharp humor, a sarcastic voice may fit. On the other hand, if you prefer emotional storytelling, a warm and sentimental tone works better.
Step 2: Choose Your Ecommerce Platform
Once you’ve chosen your niche, the next step is to create a storefront for your products. Decide on the ecommerce platforms to use between Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce. The important thing is to choose a platform that integrates smoothly with your print-on-demand provider.
Shopify is a great option if your focus is on long-term scaling because it has many store tools to help you grow your business. WooCommerce offers flexibility and deep customization for sellers who want more control.
However, Etsy is the easiest way to begin because shoppers on Etsy are already looking for print-on-demand greeting cards. This means you can make your first sales faster through built-in traffic.
Step 3: Master Card Design and File Prep
Print-on-demand providers require properly prepared design files to deliver high-quality cards. Your artwork should be set to 300 DPI to keep images sharp and professional. You also need to include bleed areas, so designs extend fully to the card edges after trimming.
Most providers offer templates, so always follow their instructions. These templates show exact dimensions and safe zones.
Offer designs in the standard 5” x 7” size since many buyers prefer this. You can also offer photo card templates for people who want to make their own cards for weddings, birthdays, or holidays.
Step 4: Choose Your Top POD Partner
Your POD partner plays a major role in your business because they handle printing and shipping. Choose carefully by comparing base costs, fulfillment speed, shipping locations, and cardstock quality.
Most importantly, before you commit to any POD company, you can order samples. A sample will give you a clear picture of what your customers will receive. When you feel confident in the provider, you can list your products.
Step 5: Market Your Brand and Drive Sales
The final step in launching a print-on-demand greeting cards business is marketing your product. Social platforms like Pinterest and Instagram work well because card buyers love visual inspiration.
Use mockups and simple videos to present your greeting card ideas. Shoppers often buy cards before major events, so early promotions will help you catch the first wave of interest.
A great strategy to increase sales is to create product bundles. Many shoppers prefer buying sets for weddings, birthdays, or thank-you notes.
Offering bundles can increase your average order value and help your shop stand out as a convenient one-stop option.
Also Read:
- Printful vs Printify: Which Print-On-Demand Platform Wins?
- Gelato vs Printify: Which Print-on-Demand Platform To Choose?
Best Print-on-Demand Greeting Card Companies for Quality and Speed
Below are four of the best providers to consider in 2026 if you want to launch or scale a print-on-demand greeting card business.
1. Printify (Best for Lowest Price & Variety Sourcing)
Printify is a popular print-on-demand platform. It connects sellers with printing partners worldwide. It allows you to choose from a large catalog of products like cards, accessories, and home items.
One of its biggest strengths is the ability to compare prices from different print providers in one place. Printify also offers simple design tools that help you create and preview products. Plus, the platform integrates with major ecommerce stores such as Shopify and Etsy.
Pros:
- Wide variety of print providers globally
- Highly competitive pricing
- Excellent mockup generators
- Large product catalog
Cons:
- Quality can vary between providers
- Less in-house control over production
Best For: Budget-conscious sellers and high-volume sales
2. Printful (Best for Consistent Quality and Branding)
Another POD service you can use to get your print-on-demand greeting cards business started is Printful. It manages most of its printing in-house, which helps keep results consistent across every order.
Printful supports custom branding features like branded packaging, packing slips, and inserts. It connects with popular ecommerce platforms and marketplaces like Etsy, Squarespace, Shopify, and others.
Pros:
- Strong branding and custom insert options
- Fast and reliable end-to-end POD fulfillment
- In-house production facilities
- Easy integrations with major platforms
Cons:
- High base cost per card
- Less control over supplier choice
Best For: Premium, branded card lines
3. Gelato (Best for Global Speed and Local Production)
Gelato is a POD platform for artists and brands to sell print-on-demand greeting cards globally. It connects sellers with a network of 140+ local print providers in over 30 countries.
This means your products can be printed close to your customers, cutting down shipping times and reducing costs. In addition to print-on-demand greeting cards, you can sell other products on Gelato, such as posters, calendars, and wall art.
Pros:
- Large global network for local production
- Reduces international shipping costs by producing closer to customers
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
Cons:
- Limited product availability in some regions
- Shipping times can still vary depending on local courier services
Best For: POD brands targeting international markets
4. Gooten (Best for Unique Paper Stocks and Extras)
Gooten is a flexible print-on-demand platform that stands out for its specialty paper and stationery options. Gooten stands out from other services by offering high-quality, textured paper that makes greeting cards feel more expensive and special.
This makes it an excellent choice for brands that want their print-on-demand greeting cards to have a high-end feel.
Pros:
- Excellent selection of stationery and paper-based products
- Supports multiple ecommerce platform integrations
- Flexible product options for creative customization
Cons:
- Interface can be less intuitive for beginners
- Limited product range compared to some larger POD platforms
Best For: Specialized print-on-demand greeting cards
Also Read:
- Best Print on Demand Companies for Etsy
- Printful Alternatives: Finding The Right POD For Your Business
Here’s a quick comparison table to give you an overview of how the different providers differ.
Maximizing Profit: Design and Pricing Strategies
Beyond creating great card designs, you need smart pricing and sales strategies if you want to run a profitable print-on-demand greeting cards business. Here are some approaches you can use:
- Design for Bundles: Bundles encourage customers to buy multiple cards at once. Bundles make shopping easier because buyers can get a full card set for different uses in a single purchase.
- Tiered Pricing: You can charge different amounts depending on the card size, material, or finish. For instance, standard cards can be priced lower to stay affordable. You can charge more for personalized or premium cards, which require extra customization.
- Upselling: To increase sales, you can include small add-ons such as stickers, art prints, or gift wrap. This will encourage customers to buy additional related products. You can use seasonal promotions or limited-time offers to encourage extra purchases.
Conclusion
Starting a greeting card business no longer has to be expensive. With the rise of print-on-demand greeting cards, creators now have a more flexible way to enter the market in 2026.
As demand for physical greeting cards continues to grow, 2026 is a good time for new brands to enter the market. So, choose a reliable POD partner like Podbase, design and sell cards and other POD products that people love to buy.
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Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
